The B.C. Lions head coach replaced starting quarterback Casey Printers with Dave Dickenson at half time of Monday's loss to the Toronto Argonauts. Now the big question is who gets the start on Sunday in Montreal.

Buono, of course, is downplaying the controversy in a futile attempt to quell it during the most important time of the season.

"You're making a big deal out of nothing," he told The (Vancouver) Province. "It's not a sin to change personnel. Who starts or doesn't start doesn't matter."

Maybe, maybe not.

Printers is the front runner for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award. He has played in all 15 games and has started the last 12. He is 9-3 as the starter and, overall, he has 32 touchdown tosses and 10 interceptions.

Dickenson, who had been out since July 2 following knee surgery, has five touchdown tosses and no picks in 57 attempts, but he brings an undisputed wealth of experience.

"Wally knows I'm healthier," Dickenson told The Province. "He can make that call. Whoever starts needs to have an assurance he can work through some negative plays without getting the hook."

WOMAN'S BEST FRIEND: Here's eccentric Roughriders DE Daved Benefield telling The (Regina) Leader-Post about a close encounter he had with the Parliament Buildings in the early 1990s.

"There was a rally because women wanted (the right) to go topless," Benefield said. "I showed up with this girl I was going out with.

"Me being so Californian, I was going, 'Wait a minute. This is a rally? What are these buildings we're in front of? Parliament Buildings? Oh, the state capital?' That's what I thought. No, dude, it's the nation's capital.

"I wondered, 'Why are we up on the lawn like that? Where are the policemen? Where are the dogs?' It seemed like we were right at the doors. 'OK, let us in!' That was the only time I was up on the lawn, and I was sure there were going to be dogs and tear gas because we had such a huge crowd."

QUIPS AND QUOTES: One win over the Alouettes has turned the Eskimos into a cocky bunch. Here's SB Terry Vaughn discussing the Als' top-rated secondary, which surrendered 454 passing yards on Monday, to the Montreal Gazette: "That's not their strong suit -- covering people. We made a lot of big plays early, and they had to get out of their blitzing. They had to basically cover -- and some of their guys are not great cover guys." ... Argos WR Andre Rison had a 60-yard reception wiped out Monday because his teammate, R. Jay Soward, was called for holding. Said Toronto coach Pinball Clemons to the Globe and Mail: "It was the first time (Soward) blocked all year."